Events

KPSOM Welcomes Class of 2029 at White Coat Ceremony

Annual event honored the students’ transition into medical training and highlighted their shared values and early connections

September 16, 2025

Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) welcomed its Class of 2029 at the sixth annual White Coat Ceremony, held September 12, at the Pasadena Convention Center. The event marked a milestone in the students’ journey into medicine, symbolizing their entry into the profession and the beginning of their formal training as physicians.

The white coat ceremony is a tradition that emphasizes not only the scientific rigor of medicine but also the humanistic values of empathy, compassion, and professionalism. Students were grouped by their Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) sites and walked across the stage one by one, accompanied by friends and family, to receive their white coats from faculty members in a gesture that represents the bond between students and the educators who will guide them through clinical instruction.

KPSOM Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Science James Alexander Zamora, MD, helps KPSOM student Sumaya Mohammed don her white coat as her loved ones accompany her onstage.

KPSOM Dean and CEO John L. Dalrymple, MD, shared personal reflections in his keynote, including the moment he recently found his old white coat from intern year. “It started out crisp and white like yours,” he said. “It felt stiff and uncomfortable initially, but it became comfortable and part of my identity as a young doctor in training, emblematic of the person I would become during that time.” He also spoke to the strength of the Class of 2029. “You’ve got what it takes to be successful in medicine,” he said. “You belong here.”

The ceremony included the reading of the Physician’s Oath by faculty leaders Paul Chung, MD, MS, Chair of Health Systems Science, H. Carrie Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Medical Education Research and Scholarship, and Anissa LaCount, MD, Director of Clinical Education, and the Community Agreement by six student representatives: Lauren Harris; Bita Ghanei; Abiyu Ghezahegn; Jayasree Peri; Sahar Nangoli; and Natalia Orso.

The voices of the students themselves best captured the emotion and significance of the event. “It felt really surreal,” said Josh Nagra when asked after the event about how it felt to don his first white coat. “It’s been a long time coming. A lot of work has gone into this.” Jessica Johnston echoed that sentiment: “It’s absolutely surreal. I can’t believe that I’m here.” Natalia Orso shared, “I really wanted this so bad, and I made sure that every adversity I had to overcome, I did.” Zoe Appel added, “There’s been so many exciting things. The people here are phenomenal, as well as getting into clinical work literally the second week we’ve been here.”

The event concluded with a closing montage of student shout-outs and photos, highlighting how close the class has already become. “It is remarkable to see in such a short period of time how much they have bonded and really have found themselves as a community of physicians in training,” Dean Dalrymple said of the Class of 2029. “Their energy, their passion, their excitement… it’s going to carry them through the next several years into the future.”

After the formal program, students and guests enjoyed more congratulatory moments, creating memories with candid photos and socializing among peers. Many continued celebrating outside the convention center, sharing joy and pride with loved ones long after the ceremony concluded.

Reflecting on what lies ahead, Dean Dalrymple offered this message after the ceremony: “I am so much looking forward to this class’s future and what they are going to achieve in healthcare and in healthcare delivery and the systems that we have in this country. They have the right orientation, the right passion, the right desire to fulfill their roles as doctors, but also to make major contributions for healthcare.”

KPSOM Welcomes Class of 2029 at White Coat Ceremony

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KPSOM Welcomes Class of 2029 at White Coat Ceremony

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KPSOM Welcomes Class of 2029 at White Coat Ceremony

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